Now it was a weapon.
Their weapon against her.
Her pain. Her shame. On display.
“What the hell kind of garbage are you spewing?”
Jasper’s voice cut through the air like a gunshot—sharp, furious.
The women turned. Vivian went pale, then quickly recovered, lifting her chin into a defiant smile.
“Isn’t it the truth?”
Nina didn’t turn around. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him. Her fists clenched hard at her sides, holding herself back from lunging at that woman right there, in front of everyone.
Jasper didn’t say a word. He slipped off his jacket and, unexpectedly, draped it over Nina’s shoulders. The fabric was warm, scented with his cologne, still holding the heat of his body.
His hand brushed her waist—light, almost weightless, but unmistakable. Enough to make one thing clear to everyone watching:
There was closeness between them.
And he was done hiding it.
“I understand,” he said in an icy voice,“that you’re trying to clean up your reputation. But sinking to this level—this filth and outright lies? Even for you, that’s low, Vivian. Thatis your name, right? I’m not mistaken?”
Everyone around them froze, openly watching the scene unfold. Nina was still breathing hard, staring at Vivian without blinking, ready to lunge at her at any second. She took a step forward—but Jasper immediately tugged her back, holding her in place, stopping her from doing something reckless.
“It’s not a lie,” Vivian snapped, hysteria creeping into her voice.“You know damn well it’s the truth!”
“The truth is only this,” Jasper replied calmly.“Twenty-two years ago, a report really was filed in Nina’s name. Everything else is filthy speculation and fantasy.”
His voice stayed steady. Flat. Controlled.
“Our fathers hated each other. When Nina’s father caught us, he caused a scandal. She was nineteen. I was twenty. It was a stupid, reckless, but very intense first love—and it became forbidden.”
He looked straight at Vivian, unblinking. She seemed to deflate.
“Then she got married, and I left. Our lives went indifferent directions. But now,” he pressed Nina a little closer to himself, “we’re on good terms again. And if even a fraction of what you said were true…” He paused deliberately.“Do you really think we’d be standing here like this? That Nina would allow me to touch her?”
Nina couldn’t move. He said it all so calmly, so convincingly, that if she didn’t know the truth herself, she might’ve believed every word.
“Maybe you should tell your friends how Nina’s shares and real estate ended up registered inyour name, Vivian,” Jasper went on.“That’s the real mystery. And a far more interesting topic than our past.”
Vivian opened her mouth as if to respond then snapped it shut.
Every eye was on them.
“Come on,” Jasper said gently to Nina.“You’re shaking. You’re cold.”
He turned her around and led her toward the exit.
They passed the cluster of women, who were practically savoring every second of the spectacle. Nina stayed silent. Jasper walked beside her—tense, contained, wound tight. He didn’t need to say anything; she felt it in the energy radiating off him.
His jacket was still draped over her shoulders, smelling like him, and she couldn’t bring herself to take it off and give it back.
“My driver will take you home,” Jasper said at last, without looking at her.
He stopped beside the car already waiting at the curb.
